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Caption

European silkmoth. European silkmoth (Saturnia pavionella). This is a chapter end-piece illustration from the second volume of the book 'Metamorphosis' (1683) by German-born naturalist Maria Sibylla Merian (1647-1717). Merian first depicted metamorphosis of European butterflies and moths around a single plant, accompanied by a text in which she described each stage. She also included parasites when she observed those from her own rearing experiments. Merian's book pioneered ecology in a way that had not been attempted before.